Safety device for submarines



Jan. 1, 1929.

A. PRIEBEI ET AL SAFETY DEVICE FOR SUBMARINES Ei ed March 8, 19%8Patented Jan. 1, 1929.,

tlNl'lE stars AMANDUS PRIEBE AND HUBERT PRIEBE, OF ANTIG'O,WISCOIQ'SI1\T.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR SUBMARINES.

Application filed March 8, 1928. Serial No. 260,222.

This invention relates to safety devices for submarines.

Objects of this invention are to provide a safety device for submarineswhich is so constructed and which cooperates with a peculiarconstruction of submarine in a novel manner to permit the egress of theoccupants of the submarine even in the event that the submarine restsupon the bottom and is disabled.

More specifically, this invention relates to lneans used in connectionwith submarines, which is so formed that it may be attached to thesubmarine and thereafter a man-hole cover may be removed from thesubmarine within the device to thus permit the occupants of thesubmarine to pass outwardly such device extending about the water level.

Further objects are to provide a novel type of device for attachment tosubmarines which is formed of tubular, universally ointed sections, withthe oints formed in a. water-tight manner, and to provide the submarinewith a plurality of means for receiving the tubular member at severaldiflerent positions, so that one at least of the positions is alwaysaccessible, irrespective of the position in which the submarine rests. 1

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings inwhich:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view of a submarine showing the deviceattached, such device being partly in section;

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of one of the joints between the sectionsof the device, such view being partly in section;

Figure 3 is a view in section showing the manner of attaching the deviceto the submarine.

Referring to the drawin s, it will be seen that a submarine 1 has aplurality of apertures 2 formed at spaced positions through its sidewalls. These apertures are so positioned and are of such number thataccess may be had to the submarine, irrespective of the posi tion atwhich it rests upon the bot-tom. Preferably, a flanged member 3 issecured to the body of the submarine at the apertures and has a man-hole4t therethrough. This manhole is covered by means of a plate or man holecover 5 which is bolted to the member 3 and which is provided with agasket 6. It is to be noted particularly from reference to Figure 3 thatthe member 3 extends outwardly beyond the man-hole cover and is providedwith threaded apertures for the reception of bolts 7.

These bolts areadapted to be passed through a flange 8 carried by thelower section 9 of the attachment.

The attachment or tubular member con-- sists of a plurality of sections9, 10. and 11, as indicated. Obviously, more sections can be added asrequired. Each of the sections are oined by means of a universal joint,for nstance, as shown in Figure 2, and these oints are water-tight. Onemode of formmg the joints may consist in forming the upper end of asection in a spherical shape, as indicated at 12 in Figure 2, andforming the lower end of theadjacent section spherical, as indicated at13 in Figure 52, and of such size as to lit over the portion 12 of thelower section. The portion 13 is provided with an outwardly projectingflange 14: to which is removably bolted a packing receiving member 15.Between the members 1% and 15, a packing 16 is positioned. Preferably,the opposed faces which contact with the packing are formed bevelled, asindicated by the ref erence character 17.

In this manner, a universal water-tight joint is formed betweensuccessive sections and the construction enables the attachment to beapplied to the submarine although obstructions occur in the bottom uponwhich the submarine rests. In other words, the jointed, tubular membermay be bent, as re quired, to facilitate its positioning on the sunkensubmarine. The articulation of the sections permits this ready shapingof the es cape or tubular member to the exact requirements.

The upper section 11 may be provided with a pair of eye bolts 18 adaptedto receive stays or cables 19, so that it may be held from other boatsor floats.

in using the device, a diver is sent down and the flange 8 of the lowersection is bolted to one of the accessible members 3. There after, wateris pumped out of the tubular, articulated casing and thereafter the manhole cover 5 is removed and the occupants of the submarine may be liftedupwardly through the casing by any suitable tackle.

It is obvious from the description given above that the device affords aready exit for the occupants of a sunken submarine and is of suchconstruction that it may be readily entered by a diver and may be easilyposi tioned.

it is to'be distinctly understood that the lowest section may have ajointed or articuios lated lower endprovided with a flange correspondingto'the flange 8, without departing from the spirit of this invention.

Although the invention has been described in consider-able detail,such-description is: intended as illustrative rather than limiting asthe invention may be variously embodied and as the scope of suchinvention is to-be deter mined as claimed.

Weclaim:

The co1nb ination 015a submarine having a plurality of spacedapertures,flangedmenibel's surrounding said apertures and having a unanhole 'therethrough, man hole eover-s reinovably attached to said flangedmembers, said flanged members having threaded apela'v hereby saidtubular .in'einber ma-y be attached to any of said flanged members andthem'an hle cover may be subsequently reanoved, said tubular memberbeing formed of a. plurality of sections having universal,

WaterQtight-joints between the sections.

In testimony that We claim the foregoing We'havehereunto set our handsat Antigo 1n the county oflianglade and Stateo'fWiscousin. 7 I

AMANDUS PR'IEBE. HUBERT PRIEBE.

